NANAIMO – A new long-term care facility in the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has been approved by the province.
The capital cost of the project is $285.76 million. Island Health will build, own and operate the facility. The
Nanaimo Regional Hospital District is contributing $114.3 million to the project. With the significant shortage of long-term care beds and long waitlists, people who would be better cared for in specialized facilities designed to meet complex care needs are currently placed in acute care beds at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH).
The new facility is a critical component of the continuum of healthcare and will bring more much-needed
long-term care beds to the region. Local seniors will be able to age with appropriate care and dignity in or
near their home communities, and hospital beds will become available for other patient needs.
“By working together with multiple partners and investing in capital projects, we are improving access to
healthcare services for residents of all ages in our region,” said Ian Thorpe, NRHD Chair. “We appreciate
the Province’s investment in a long-term care home that will improve the quality of care, health outcomes
and experiences for seniors and their families and help address capacity issues at Nanaimo Regional
General Hospital.”
The NRHD continues to advocate for other major capital healthcare projects that are urgently needed for
the Central and North Island including a new patient tower replacement and a cardiac catheterization lab,
all to be located at NRGH. Approval of the NRHD’s other priority projects, a new High Acuity Unit at NRGH,
was announced by the Province in late March and approval of the concept plan for Nanaimo cancer center
was announced in May 2023.
Collectively, these interrelated healthcare projects will address the critical shortage of appropriate
healthcare facilities and specialized services necessary to meet the medical needs of Central and North
Island residents.
Business Examiner Staff